Introducing: Anne Darby Parker
Anne Darby Parker is one of the latest artists to join The Willard Gallery’s roster and we are so excited to introduce her work to our community here in Maine. In her work, the South Carolina-based figurative painter explores the intersection of life on a Lowcountry island with female expression and strength. The collection of feminine figures she has sent to Maine for us to show in our cottage gallery space are bold and expressive with carefully selected frames that enhance each work.
Anne recently earned her MFA at Academy of Art University and writes beautifully about her work. Read on for more from Anne regarding her work.
Anne’s Biographical Statement
The characteristics natural to Anne Darby Parker are the outdoors, femininity, and spontaneity. Growing up, women working to maintain their beliefs, cultural rituals, and daily way of life surrounded her. For Anne, life in the Lowcountry was, and still is normal.
Growing up on Sullivan’s Island, a barrier island in South Carolina, made areas where sand meets water Anne’s preferred place. Her expression often reflects the spontaneous and rhythmic movement of island life. She was surrounded by a culture of making, creating, and expressing; her first medium was yarn. Sometimes, while painting, thoughts of knitting help her translate thoughts of connecting lines and color.
As a young adult, Anne worked as a photographer but felt the call to express herself differently. At first, she painted on her photographs but decided to move completely to the canvas. The island and the feminine always call her to explore the connection between them.
Returning to her roots, Anne and her husband raised their children on Sullivan's Island. Anne’s studio immerses her in the island environment and allows family and friends to see women consistently using art to express and explore strength.
Anne’s Personal Statement
“As an artist, I think about the legacies left by women before me, legacies of hard work, mindfulness, strength, change, and progress. I work with intention to influence the present but ultimately, I work with the knowledge that every doodle, sketch, photograph, and painting influences my legacy. My consistent work to establish, develop, and grow my business does more than earn dollars. Each day I express resilience and faith in myself and trust in others because I believe they will see value in my art.
When painting, I frequently use a combination of graphite, acrylic, and oil. My movement is gestural and expressive. I immerse myself in the same environment the model is in and express this through choices of color and brushwork. A series usually begins with a modeling session in a natural environment and I finish each piece in my studio. With careful intention, I trust my instincts, experience, and intuition to make connected choices that support the feel of my vision.”
- Anne Darby Parker
For more from Anne Darby Parker, be sure to sign up for Anne’s newsletter through her website and follow along with her work on Instagram.
